Last month, Raducanu reunited with Andrew Richardson, who worked with her during her fairytale run in New York five years ago, when she entered the tournament as a qualifier and left with the trophy.

Since that moment, her career has been plagued with injury and fitness issues including surgery on both wrists and an ankle, and most recently the after-effects of a viral illness that she contracted ahead of the W250 final in Cluj in February.

The clay season might not have gone to plan with first-round exits in Strasbourg and Roland Garros but Raducanu’s attacking game is more suited to grass, and she showed the best of it in west London.

As she wrote “Made it to Sunday, Funday!” on the camera to sign off reaching the final, it was clear how much this moment meant to her.

“Any Brit would love to win the title here,” she said. “Me and my team have stuck together through some tough moments the last few months so I would like to thank them for getting me through.”

The World Cup 2026 match between Switzerland and Qatar played out in front of hundreds of empty seats to raise further questions about Fifa’s ticket prices for the tournament.

The Group B clash at the 70,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco on Saturday was the first game to be staged in the United States not involving the co-hosts and it failed to sell out.

While the fixture was always unlikely to be considered ‘in-demand’, pockets of empty seats could be seen clearly throughout the stadium. A 12pm kick-off local time and sweltering temperatures won’t have helped, with Fifa’s go-to excuse of fans being on the concourses rather in their seats potentially having some validity.

Tickets remained on sale in the hours before kick-off, although Fifa’s own ticketing website displayed a ‘limited availability’ message when entering the portal on Saturday.

The cheapest tickets on sale were for $450 in the Category 1 tier and were located in the lower-bowl of Levi’s Stadium and towards the corners.

There were thousands of empty seats in just the second match of the tournament between South Korea and Czech Republic in Guadalajara on Thursday evening. There were also some empty seats at Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.

Fifa, meanwhile, released a statement defending the swathes of empty seats in South Korea’s opening-day win against the Czech Republic by insisting that some fans “stood in concourses rather than in their assigned seat.”

“Official attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium footprint, rather than visual assessments of seating occupancy at any given moment during the match,” a Fifa spokesperson said.

“Fifa works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data. Please note that, during last night’s match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match.”

Only 29 matches had sold out before the start of the World Cup on Thursday, with tickets still available on Fifa’s ticketing website for 75 matches in the days before the opening match, despite Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s claim that demand has been “unprecedented”.

It comes as ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup are to be investigated by chief legal officers in the United States. The attorneys generals of New York and New Jersey insist Fifa must answer questions after allegations of “artificially inflating prices” and “misleading fans” over the sale of match tickets, with world football’s governing body subpoenaed to provide information.

Supporters have reported they were “misled” about the location of seats, including through the creation of more expensive ‘front’ category tickets released after the initial sales.

It is also alleged variable pricing through various phases and subject to demand had allowed Fifa to raise prices for about 90 of the 104 fixtures by an average of 34 per cent. Fifa has also been able to hold back seats before releasing them later, driving up pricing by increasing scarcity.

Infantino defended the price of World Cup tickets on the eve of the tournament, pointing towards the exorbitant cost of attending play-off matches in US sports, such as the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, and stating the World Cup is a bigger event.

The pricing of the World Cup has been a hugely controversial issue since tickets were first released in November, with the initial sales drop revealing £3,000 tickets for the World Cup final and fans with a £5,000 bill to follow their teams right through to the final. The 2026 World Cup is estimated to be up to five times more expensive than the last World Cup in Qatar, with Infantino targeting unprecedented revenues of $13bn from the tournament.

Many first-time visitors say “Rus-warp” when referring to the village, but locals know the correct pronunciation is actually “Russ-up”, with the “w” remaining completely silent.

Located less than two miles from Whitby, Ruswarp has become a destination in its own right, attracting walkers, cyclists and families looking for a quieter alternative to its famous coastal neighbour.

Ruswarp (Image: ALL TRAILS)

Often described by visitors as a “hidden gem”, “peaceful” and “far less crowded than Whitby”, the village combines railway heritage, scenic countryside and riverside charm.

One of Ruswarp’s most recognisable landmarks dominates the skyline.

Stretching across the River Esk valley is the village’s impressive railway viaduct, a 120ft-high structure built from more than five million bricks.

Constructed to carry trains on the Scarborough-to-Whitby railway line, the viaduct remains one of the most striking sights in the area.

Although the railway closed in 1965, the route has found a new lease of life as The Cinder Track, a popular walking and cycling trail connecting Whitby and Scarborough.

Visitors regularly describe the viaduct as one of the highlights of a trip to Ruswarp.

But Ruswarp’s appeal extends beyond its railway history.

Despite being only minutes from one of Yorkshire’s busiest tourist destinations, Ruswarp has retained much of its village character.

Visitors often comment on the slower pace of life, with independent businesses such as Jackson’s of Ruswarp, Colin Duck Grocer and the Bridge Inn helping to maintain its traditional feel.

The village’s railway station, served by the Esk Valley Line, continues a transport connection that has shaped Ruswarp for generations, linking it with Whitby, Middlesbrough and communities across the Esk Valley.

Many online reviews describe Ruswarp as the perfect base for exploring the North Yorkshire coast, offering easy access to Whitby while avoiding some of the crowds.

One visitor wrote: “It’s got everything you need for a day out – river walks, history, great views and somewhere to relax afterwards.”

And while visitors may still occasionally get its name wrong, those who discover “Russ-up” often find themselves returning again and again.

The budget airline issued the warning as it assesses the impact of the rising air passenger duty (APD) on demand and profitability.

APD, a tax imposed by HMRC and paid by airline passengers, reached a record high in April and is set to rise again next year in line with inflation.

Chief executive of Wizz Air, József Váradi, speaking in The Telegraph, said: “We are evaluating the impacts of those measures to see how they would play out, so that would affect our capacity in the UK.

“Nothing is ever engraved in stone.

“We have to evaluate how exactly that plays out on our network, our customer base and our financial performance and make decisions accordingly.”

Mr Váradi said Wizz Air is “committed to the UK”, but added that “if the cost of business is going up, that will result in capacity rationalisation if you are unable to pass it on to customers.”

Wizz Air boss issues update on fare prices

Despite increasing fuel prices driven by the conflict in Iran, Mr Váradi said the airline aims to keep fares stable this summer.

He said he had no concerns about fuel supplies, with good visibility until the middle of August, although some countries have begun tapping into strategic reserves.

Earlier this year, Wizz Air cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and other Middle Eastern destinations following the outbreak of conflict in the region.

These cancellations, along with suspended routes to Cyprus, cost the airline an estimated €50 million (£43.1 million).

Wizz Air fare prices look set to remain stable this summer, despite the conflict in the Middle East. (Image: Getty Images)

Flights to Tel Aviv resumed at the end of May, and the airline shifted its summer offerings to other destinations, including Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Albania.

British Airways and Ryanair among other major airlines to have cut flights

Several other airlines have been forced to cut flights, increase fares, or axe UK routes in 2026.

UK airline Skybus announced back in April that it had ceased all flights between Cornwall and London due to “the huge rise in the global cost of fuel” and “a significant drop in new passenger bookings”.

Due to the “ongoing uncertainty” caused by the conflict in the Middle East and airspace restrictions, British Airways (BA) was also forced to cancel or suspend flights to various destinations, including Dubai and Doha, in March.

BA had been set to resume its regular schedule to Dubai International Airport on July 1.

However, this has now been delayed, and all flights between the UK and Dubai have been cancelled until October 25.

All flights to Amman, Bahrain, and Tel Aviv have also been cancelled until October.

BA has also confirmed it is reducing its Doha schedule to one daily flight, set to resume from August 1, according to Time Out.

Ryanair has also been forced to make several major changes in 2026.

In April, the budget airline revealed it would be closing its Berlin base as of October 24, reducing the number of flights it operates out of the German capital by 50% (for its upcoming winter schedule).

Ryanair also announced it will close its Thessaloniki base and reduce capacity at Athens Airport for the 2026 winter season.

This closure will result in:

• 12 routes being cut
• The loss of 700,000 seats
• A 45% reduction in passenger capacity
• Suspension of operations in Chania and Heraklion

The airline said both these cuts were due to high airport costs.

All the cuts made by Ryanair recently due to rising costs have resulted in flights being cut from 19 airports across the UK and Europe, according to The Sun:

United Kingdom

• London Stansted
• Manchester

Ireland

Germany

• Berlin Brandenburg
• Cologne Bonn
• Hamburg

Italy

Portugal

Belgium

France

Poland

Hungary

Romania

Bulgaria

Spain

Travellers flying to or from these airports are being urged to check their schedules before flying to ensure their bookings are still going ahead.

Have you got any flights booked with Wizz Air in 2026? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

The Derry native has slammed the FAI’s decision to move Ireland’s UEFA Nations League match against Israel to a neutral venue

James McClean has slammed the FAI’s choice to relocate Ireland’s fixture against Israel to a neutral location.

The Derry native has argued that the organisation missed a chance to “stand on the right side of history” by refusing to play the match, describing the decision as a “cowardly move”.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Ireland’s UEFA Nations League encounter with Israel would take place at a neutral ground instead of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

But, McClean, who earned 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland, has condemned the organisation for not taking a stance on the continuing situation in Gaza.

Speaking to RTE Sport on Saturday evening, the Derry City player said: “I think we’ve missed a massive opportunity here.

“I think the decision to move to a neutral venue behind closed doors, of all the decisions we could have made, is by far the worst one.

“The FAI have missed a massive opportunity to stand on the right side of history.

“If you’re going to go ahead with the game, at least have the courage to face the backlash that was going to come with it being played in Dublin.

“But to move it away is a cowardly move. If there’s one country that can relate to the oppression and famine and what’s going on in Gaza, it’s the people of this country.

“I think the decision-makers have kind of forgotten that, to be honest.”

On Saturday, the FAI published an extensive statement outlining the reasoning behind relocating the Israel match to a neutral venue.

“The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirms that UEFA has approved a request to host the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixture between Ireland and Israel on October 4 overseas, at a neutral venue and behind closed doors,” the statement read.

“Following consultation with various stakeholders, the Association is of the view that operational challenges could impact the delivery of the game on home soil, and therefore the fixture will be played away from the Aviva Stadium.”

“The Association thanks An Garda Síochána for their support and advice over recent months and states that the decision to relocate to a neutral venue is one that has been considered an appropriate course of action by the FAI Board, with the support of UEFA.

“The Association understands and respects the views expressed by players and staff, supporters, its members, campaigners, members of the public and the Irish footballing community in relation to this fixture.

“In recent months, the Association has been in communication with the Palestinian Football Association regarding the fulfilment of the fixtures and they have shared the following statement:

“‘The Palestinian Football Association expresses its appreciation for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes.

“‘The Palestinian Football Association also affirms its respect for the decision made by the Football Association of Ireland within the framework of its sporting and international obligations, in a manner that enables it to continue fulfilling its noble mission of serving football and promoting the values of justice, solidarity and mutual respect.’

“The Association is deeply conscious of the suffering and devastation being endured by civilians in Gaza and continues to reflect the sentiment of the motion that was proposed and voted in favour of by members of the FAI General Assembly in November 2025. This motion was to issue a formal request to the UEFA Executive Committee for the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions for a breach of UEFA statutes.

“While the Association submitted that motion to UEFA and has consulted with UEFA officials for almost two years on this issue, it also recognises the UEFA competition rules and regulations to which it has agreed. These outline that if an association refuses to play a match, that fixture will be forfeited and further disciplinary measures may follow, including potential disqualification from the competition.

“In February 2026, Ireland were drawn into Group B3 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League alongside Austria, Israel and Kosovo. The Association stated at the time that the Ireland team would proceed with all scheduled fixtures and maintains this position, given that any alternative would have a profound impact on Irish football as a whole.

“If the Association opted not to fulfil the fixtures, the immediate result would be:

“Beyond the sporting implications, there would be broader consequences for Irish football, including a reduced capacity to support clubs and leagues through critical services such as safeguarding, educational programmes and player development opportunities.

“There could also be implications for Ireland international teams, including the withdrawal of underage teams and a reduction in the level of support and services provided to players and staff.

“The Association will engage with its members at a forthcoming Extraordinary General Meeting, but reminds its members that it is the responsibility of the FAI Board to protect the future interests of football in Ireland and therefore remains committed to fulfilling each of its 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixtures.

“While the FAI Board appreciates that its decision to fulfil this fixture affects many stakeholders, it would ask that consideration also be given to the players and staff.

“The Association acknowledges the impact the change of venue will have on its loyal Season Ticket holders and Club Ireland members. Once all details surrounding the fixture on October 4 have been finalised, the Association will update its 2026 FAI Season Ticket holders and Club Ireland members on the appropriate ticketing arrangements, which may include compensation or the possibility of an additional home fixture in 2027.

“The FAI Board would like to reiterate that its decision to fulfil the fixture has been made in the interests of Irish football.”

Ahead of Sunday’s remarkable UFC White House fight event, Josh Hokit stole the show at the Saturday morning weigh-in, having done the same at Friday’s press conference.

On Friday evening, all 14 fighters from the seven bouts shared a stage in front of the Lincoln Memorial, trading barbs with their rivals but with Hokit chiming in at every opportunity – regardless of who had been asked a question.

And on Saturday morning, as the fighters weighed in before a crowd of media personnel, Hokit seemingly pretended to throw up, as he dribbled a sick-coloured liquid from his mouth.

“So what? Maybe I was drinking last night,” the American heavyweight told those in the room. “Who wouldn’t be?

“I’ve got a giant man who wants to knock me out. He has the most knockouts in UFC history,” Hokit added, referencing his opponent Derrick Lewis.

Hokit, 28, also appeared to be on unsteady legs as he walked into the room, took to the scale, and exited. However, this also seemed to be part of his act.

Hokit has made a name for himself in recent months by playing different characters. At Friday’s press conference, he continually referenced “The Incredible Hoke”, while he spoke nervously about all of the fighters at the event.

Hokit, who weighed in at 231lb on Saturday morning, will join his fellow athletes in performing a ceremonial weigh-in on Saturday evening, at the Ellipse park near the White House. That gives each fighter one final chance to face off with their opponent before Sunday’s unprecedented fight card on the South Lawn.

Hokit vs Lewis was added to UFC Freedom 250 at the request of Donald Trump, after the US President watched from cageside in April as Hokit won an instant classic with Curtis Blaydes.

By the end of the night, UFC president Dana White – a close friend of Trump – had paired Hokit with fellow American Lewis, who is Trump’s favourite fighter.

Lewis, 41, tipped the scales at 265lb on Saturday morning. The veteran is the betting underdog for his contest with Hokit.

On Friday, Hokit’s behaviour culminated in him referencing the recent divorce of main-event fighter Ilia Topuria, and White immediately ended the press conference after that insult.

At a launch press conference for UFC Freedom 250 in May, Hokit had insulted Topuria – as well as co-main-event fighter Alex Pereira – and was escorted off stage by security.

Police have released a photo of a man accused of attacking a 17-year-old after a Knicks game in an assault that left the teen in a coma.

The New York Police Department shared a photo of the suspect in an X post Friday and urged the public to come forward if they recognized him.

The unidentified man is wanted for gang assault after allegedly punching and kicking the teen victim on West 35th Street near Madison Square Garden after Wednesday night’s game, the NYPD said.

The victim had a seizure and was left in a coma, according to police. The department didn’t elaborate on his condition further.

“I have no words for him,” the victim’s mother, Shiomara Arce, told The New York Post. “Right now my son comes first. This person needs to pay for what he’s done.”

She described the victim, Johnny Aumuller, as a Knicks fan who is “always playing basketball in the neighborhood.”

He was no longer in a coma as of Friday but was still listed in critical but stable condition at the hospital, The Post reported.

The search for the suspect comes as the Knicks seek their first NBA championship in 53 years. They took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 107-106 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Police arrested at least 15 people after that game, and videos on social media appeared to show fans throwing eggs at Spurs star Victor Wembanyama as he entered his team’s hotel.

“Once again, there were large crowds of people who engaged in incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior last night both during and after the game,” the NYPD wrote in a statement Thursday. “This demonstrates exactly why the NYPD has increased our presence in and around Madison Square Garden.”

Game 5 is Saturday night in San Antonio, Texas. If necessary, Game 6 will be at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

Despite the team’s absence from Madison Square Garden Saturday, thousands of Knicks fans are expected to descend on the area surrounding the Manhattan arena.

The team has organized an official watch party for up to 3,000 supporters outside MSG, requiring advanced registration and police screening. Additional viewing events are planned for Radio City Music Hall and Wollman Rink in Central Park, catering to the overwhelming demand.

The DWP has released new figures showing the scale of State Pension underpayments due to historic National Insurance HRP errors, with thousands of pensioners potentially owed back payments

Thousands of pensioners throughout the UK may still be entitled to State Pension back payments as the DWP works to rectify longstanding errors relating to National Insurance records.

Newly published figures from the DWP reveal that mistakes involving Home Responsibilities Protection remain the leading cause of State Pension underpayments, with both the department and HMRC engaged in a substantial exercise to identify those affected and issue arrears. According to the DWP’s most recent Fraud and Error in the Benefit System report, HRP-related errors account for roughly £6 in every £10 underpaid as a result of National Insurance contribution mistakes.

HRP was a scheme operating between 1978 and 2010, designed to safeguard the State Pension entitlement of parents and carers who took time away from employment to look after children or disabled family members.

However, certain eligible years were not correctly recorded on National Insurance records, leaving numerous individuals receiving lower State Pension payments than they were rightfully due.

Based on DWP guidance and the groups most frequently affected by Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) errors, there are five key categories of people who may be owed State Pension back payments, reports the Express :

1. Women who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 and whose National Insurance number was not correctly linked to their claim.
2. Parents whose partner claimed Child Benefit instead of them, meaning HRP may not have been credited to the correct person’s National Insurance record.
3. People receiving Income Support while caring for someone who was sick or disabled.
4. Unpaid carers who looked after a disabled or seriously ill person and met the HRP criteria.
5. Foster carers and eligible kinship carers (particularly between 2003 and 2010) who may have qualified for HRP but never received it.

The DWP stated: “Some people have not had all eligible years of HRP recorded on their National Insurance records and so have an incomplete record affecting their State Pension entitlement.”

As part of an ongoing rectification scheme known as the Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practice (LEAP) exercise, HMRC has already dispatched more than 370,000 letters urging individuals to check whether they may have been affected.

Officials are cross-referencing National Insurance records to identify those who may have qualified for HRP between 1978 and 2010 but have no corresponding credits on file.

The most recent figures reveal that State Pension underpayments remained at approximately £390 million in the year to April 2026, with National Insurance contribution errors continuing to account for a considerable proportion of cases.

Those who believe they may have missing HRP years are able to review their National Insurance record and State Pension forecast online via GOV. UK.

Individuals can still apply to have missing HRP added to their record even after reaching State Pension age.

The DWP and HMRC have confirmed they will press ahead with reviewing cases, correcting records and issuing back payments to those found to have received less State Pension than they were rightfully owed.

The FM has joined thousands of Scotland fans for a Boston takeover ahead of our first World Cup match in 28 years.

John Swinney has praised the “electric” atmosphere in Boston as the Tartan Army gather in huge numbers ahead of the country’s first World Cup Match in 28 years.

The First Minister is in the US city to watch Steve Clarke’s men take on Haiti in their opening fixture of the 2026 tournament which kicks off at 2am UK time on June 14.

The SNP leader has been joined by famous faces including Gerard Butler and Gordon Ramsay in the Massachusetts capital alongside an estimated 40,000 Scotland fans who have also made the trip.

Speaking to the Press Association, Swinney said: “The atmosphere is electric here in Boston, it has been since we arrived.

“There are thousands and thousands of Scotland fans who have made the journey and the atmosphere is lively, it’s positive.

“It’s great weather and people are having a great time and engaging with the local community here in Boston. Everyone has had such a warm welcome from the Boston community, so its a fantastic situation to be part of.”

Mr Swinney added that Scotland’s 28-year absence at the World Cup made it “particularly precious” to be in Boston and supporting the team.

He was speaking at The Haven, a Scottish pub in Boston, for an event by the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal, which aims to donate to children’s charities in every country in which the Scotland team plays matches.

A spokesman for Meet Boston – a tourism organisation in the city – told the Press Association that the Scottish fans were bringing “palpable” joy. He said: “To say the impact has been significant would be a major understatement.

“The Tartan Army is omnipresent across town and their energy and joy is so palpable.”

The spokesman described scenes posted on social media of Scotland fans celebrating ahead of the match as “absolute fire”.

He said many people had been trying to estimate the overall number of visitors from Scotland, which was about 40,000 but “could be higher”.

The Dubliner Boston, an Irish pub which has been popular with fans, had gone through 30 kegs of Tennent’s lager by Thursday, he added.

On Friday night, Mr Swinney attended events in Boston alongside celebrities including Gerard Butler – star of the movie 300 – who wore a kilt and football shirt.

Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd also sported a kilt, with actors Martin Compston and Tony Curran, former footballers James McFadden and Darren Fletcher and broadcaster Gordon Smart, also in attendance.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the world cup. Click HERE.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

Former Little Mix star Perrie Edwards got ready to tie the knot with footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a pre-wedding celebration

Perrie Edwards is in party mood as she ties the knot with footballer fiance Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The former Little Mix star is getting married in the Algarve four years on from their engagement. The couple will exchange their vows in Quinta do Lago in Portugal. The couple know the area well, with Perrie said to own a villa nearby.

The intimate ceremony will see the likes of Perrie’s former bandmates, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock jet over to be a part of the special day. And the exclusive resort where the wedding party have been staying is said to cost up to £2,800 for a room for the night.

The pre-wedding ceremony saw the stars and their guests mingle, with footballers including Harrison Reed also in attendance. It’s claimed Alex’s brother was one of the last to leave the celebration, with most guests calling it a night at 10pm.

The guests are said to have tucked into pizzas, pastas and cocktails at the resort’s Italian restaurant. It comes as Perrie recently couldn’t hide her delight at the impending big day.

Perrie had hinted her big day was close last month as she said: “There’s so much coming up in both my personal and professional life — my wedding! I tried on the dress the other day and I’m so happy with it. I feel very fulfilled in my life right now, and I’m very happy with the balance. But yeah, a lot is going on — babies, dogs, planning my wedding.”

But she also admitted that the other member of Little Mix, Jesy Nelson, would be nowhere to be seen. She confessed that she can’t see their friendship ever reforming.

Perrie told Jamie Laing on his podcast: “”What annoys me is the most, and again I have to be careful how I say this as I don’t want to seem like a b**** but for me what upsets me the most is when situations like this happen and the other person doesn’t take any accountability, that boils my blood!

“I am not blaming everything on you, I am not saying that she’s this f****** monster and everything was her thought blah, blah, blah but take some accountability for your actions and realise you were difficult, you did have difficult moments.”

But Jesy’s sister wasn’t prepared to take the comments without responding. Jade Nelson fired back in a lengthy post on Instagram.

Within the post, Jade fumed: “She’s fully aware she was hard to deal with but through it all if any other single person were struggling with a break up, anxiety, life, she was there! lsn’t that what you do as friends or if you love someone?”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.